Jerry Colangelo questions the people around Lonzo Ball
By John Buhler
Philadelphia 76ers adviser Jerry Colangelo doesn’t doubt former UCLA Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball’s talent. He’s a concerned about the people in his camp.
Former UCLA Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball will in all likelihood be one of the first three players taken in the 2017 NBA Draft. While he has been tabbed as the guy going No. 2 to the Los Angeles Lakers, Ball’s group has been on the fence about working out with the Philadelphia 76ers picking at No. 3.
While few don’t doubt Ball’s on-court talent as a ball handler and a distributor, some executives have had issues with the people in Ball’s camp. One of those people happens to be 76ers adviser Jerry Colangelo.
While Colangelo’s son Bryan Colangelo is the 76ers general manager, the elder Colangelo used to own the Phoenix Suns and was a staple in USA Basketball for a long time. His opinion isn’t everything for the 76ers, but it does matter.
Colangelo said on a radio show Friday about the highly touted point guard prospect out of UCLA, “I think Ball is a terrific prospect and could have an outstanding NBA future. I think it’s going to be a challenging with the people around him, without being specific.”
Ball himself is soft-spoken, but his entrepreneurial father LaVar Ball has been anything but that. The elder Ball has been outspoken about how all three of his sons will be one-and-done players at UCLA, pushing his upstart apparel brand Big Baller Brand all the while.
Ball’s group has declined to work out for the Boston Celtics picking at No. 1 in the upcoming draft. Frankly, Ball will likely end up being a Laker. Philadelphia obviously has intrigue in the kid and there is no conceivable way that Ball falls past Phoenix at No. 4.
Colangelo didn’t say his criticism of Ball’s father, but we can all read between the lines on that comment. Does Colangelo have the right to be questionable of Ball’s involvement in his son’s basketball life? Sure, but that’s not going to help the 76ers ultimately get a work out in to evaluate Ball first hand.
Though Philadelphia has two capable ball handlers on its roster in point guard T.J. McConnell and point forward Ben Simmons, the 76ers could honestly use help bolstering their backcourt. McConnell may only be a serviceable backup point guard in the league. Simmons could be excellent at the point forward but missed his entire rookie year in 2016-17 due to a fractured foot.
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Philadelphia is aware that No. 1 overall prospect Markelle Fultz will be the guy the Celtics take at the top of the draft. Should Los Angeles do what is expected and take Ball at No. 2, the 76ers should still be in good shape. They could go with Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox at No. 3 to fulfill point guard needs. Philadelphia could also go with a high-upside wing like Kansas’ Josh Jackson or Duke’s Jayson Tatum.